Not here to seek votes but blessings: Kovind

BHOPAL : “I am here not to seek votes or support but to seek the blessings of the people of Madhya Pradesh,” said NDA Presidential candidate Ramnath Kovind, while addressing a meeting of BJP MPs and MLAs here on Saturday. He said MP had been his ‘karmabhoomi’

Kovind said he wanted to maintain the dignity of the post of President. “I want to carry forward the legacy of Rajendra Prasad, Radhakrishnan and APJ Abdul Kalam,” he said.

He said as governor of Bihar, he did not allow considerations of religion, caste or region to come in the way of the discharge of his duties. He said he was thankful and indebted to PM Modi and other parties for sponsoring his candidature.

Minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj said to date, BJP leaders had occupied the posts of PM, Vice-President and Lok Sabha Speaker. “That happy day is round the corner when our worker will occupy the highest office of the country,” she said. She also said she was pained by the talk of dalit versus dalit in the context of the Presidential elections.

She said Kovind had been chosen for the top job not because he was a dalit but because he was an able and competent person. “He did not join government job even after clearing the UPSC exam. He was destined to appoint prime ministers,” she said in a lighter vein.

CM Chouhan said it was a tribute to the personality of Kovind that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had decided to extend support to him. He said many parties which were not a part of the NDA had also decided to back Kovind. He said the Congress had put a candidate against Kovind only to save itself from disintegration. “It is just a symbolic opposition,” he said.

Earlier, Kovind was given a warm welcome on his arrival at the state hangar. Besides MPs and MLAs, top BJP office-bearers also welcomed him.

Independent MLAs back Kovind Three Independent members of assembly Kalsingh Bhabar, Sudesh Rai and Dinesh Rai Munmum have announced their support to Kovind.

Misuse of state hanger: PCC chief PCC president Arun Yadav said the state government had misused public money by erecting tent and dome at the state hangar on the arrival of Kovind. He said it was clear that the BJP thought it could use tax payers’ money they way it liked.